Do you want to be richer? Or happier? We don't even have to choose between them if we keep producing and consuming, so we are told. The ongoing cycle of higher and higher production and consumption (what we call economic growth) is meant to make us all richer, and happier too. If we start to feel a little guilty about our riches compared to others, or start to realise that being richer doesn't mean we actually live in a better or happier world, it might lead some of us to do things in a slightly better way, but it's pretty much still the same things (what we call green growth). But we have plenty of evidence this isn't working out for us very well. Continuing to value traditional economic growth - continuing to produce and consume beyond the resources the world has to offer - has widened economic inequalities, resulted in high levels of exploitation of people and our earth, and led us to the brink of climate breakdown.
How do we start again?
I believe that growth matters. But not in the way you think.
Change demand to change supply.
Where each of us chooses to spend our money and what we choose to buy reflects our true values. Our system is based on satisfying our 'needs' as consumers. But what if those needs are for improved equality, better work-life balance, community-focused solutions, or to be able to switch off from technology? What if profit and value weren't just about money and shareholders, but about fairness, community and kindness? What we often forget is that we have the power to bring change - at our fingertips (our wallets). We can choose products that value the people and the planet's resources and produces things that we actually need in respectful ways. Let's spend our money on things that build a better world. But let's also remember that sometimes not spending at all can have the largest impact.
Don't look down.
Beneath our feet and in our oceans live some of the most amazing marine resources that epitomise the health of our planet. Unsustainable fishing, climate change and extreme weather, acidification as well as deoxygenation, alter the structure of ecosystems on which life depends. At the same time, exploitation, inequality and imbalance of power have led to modern slavery, forced work, human tracking and assault in the supply chains that lead to the products we use daily. What if ALL products on supermarket shelves were sustainable by default? Sustainable for those people who make the products, for those buying them, and for our planet?
Growth by a different name.
For the last 30 years we have defined sustainable development as made up of economic, social and environmental development. We are living as though we all have 3, 4, 5 earths, but we don't, we've only got this one. We have a choice between either a radically reduced material footprint, starting with wealthy nations, or climate disaster. So what we actually need is for the economy to serve both society and the environment, disassociating being rich from being happy, because we all know that above a certain level, continued growth does not increase happiness. We must use less resources. We must value people more. We must WANT to want these things. The time for a degrowth transition is now: getting rid of the wasteful and needless parts of our economy, while growing the needs-satisfying parts within planetary boundaries.
Join me as I use a scientific evidence base to truly value people and the planet to put the 'well' in 'wealth'.
How do we start again?
I believe that growth matters. But not in the way you think.
Change demand to change supply.
Where each of us chooses to spend our money and what we choose to buy reflects our true values. Our system is based on satisfying our 'needs' as consumers. But what if those needs are for improved equality, better work-life balance, community-focused solutions, or to be able to switch off from technology? What if profit and value weren't just about money and shareholders, but about fairness, community and kindness? What we often forget is that we have the power to bring change - at our fingertips (our wallets). We can choose products that value the people and the planet's resources and produces things that we actually need in respectful ways. Let's spend our money on things that build a better world. But let's also remember that sometimes not spending at all can have the largest impact.
Don't look down.
Beneath our feet and in our oceans live some of the most amazing marine resources that epitomise the health of our planet. Unsustainable fishing, climate change and extreme weather, acidification as well as deoxygenation, alter the structure of ecosystems on which life depends. At the same time, exploitation, inequality and imbalance of power have led to modern slavery, forced work, human tracking and assault in the supply chains that lead to the products we use daily. What if ALL products on supermarket shelves were sustainable by default? Sustainable for those people who make the products, for those buying them, and for our planet?
Growth by a different name.
For the last 30 years we have defined sustainable development as made up of economic, social and environmental development. We are living as though we all have 3, 4, 5 earths, but we don't, we've only got this one. We have a choice between either a radically reduced material footprint, starting with wealthy nations, or climate disaster. So what we actually need is for the economy to serve both society and the environment, disassociating being rich from being happy, because we all know that above a certain level, continued growth does not increase happiness. We must use less resources. We must value people more. We must WANT to want these things. The time for a degrowth transition is now: getting rid of the wasteful and needless parts of our economy, while growing the needs-satisfying parts within planetary boundaries.
Join me as I use a scientific evidence base to truly value people and the planet to put the 'well' in 'wealth'.